Multi-functional griddle

Abstract

A cooking griddle having a body, a griddle plate defining at least one versatile section that can be removed, flipped over, or replaced by a secondary cooking member, and a heat source. The versatile sections include a griddle orifice and a sear griddle orifice. Secondary cooking members locate on or in the versatile sections and include a griddle dual side plate having a first side with a non-stick coating and a second side with dimples or ridges, a pizza plate, a wok, a steamer assembly, a member having a perforated surface for allowing flame to char food, a grate, and a lower profile lid. Supports may be provided below the griddle dual side plate in the form of brackets affixed to the griddle plate, a circular ring defining a shelf, and pivoting or extendable brackets. An elevation mechanism elevates a secondary cooking member for allowing air flow.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooking griddle comprising:
 a body having a front surface and a rear surface;   a griddle plate supported by said body, said griddle plate defining an upper surface, a versatile section that can be removed, flipped over, or replaced by a secondary cooking member;   a heat source below griddle plate.   
     
     
         2 . The cooking griddle according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said griddle plate defines a second versatile section; 
 said second versatile section is a sear griddle orifice. 
 
     
     
         3 . The cooking griddle according to  claim 2  wherein:
 said secondary cooking member is a sear griddle dual side plate is sized to be received in said sear griddle orifice. 
 
     
     
         4 . The cooking griddle according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said versatile section of said griddle plate is a griddle orifice. 
 
     
     
         5 . The cooking griddle according to  claim 4  wherein:
 said griddle plate defines a cutout adjacent to said griddle orifice for providing access for tool insertion to move or flip said secondary cooking member located in said griddle orifice. 
 
     
     
         6 . The cooking griddle according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said versatile section is a griddle orifice; 
 said secondary cooking member is a griddle dual side plate sized to be received in said griddle orifice. 
 
     
     
         7 . The cooking griddle according to  claim 6  wherein:
 said griddle dual side plate defines a first side that is covered with a non-stick coating. 
 
     
     
         8 . The cooking griddle according to  claim 6  wherein:
 said griddle dual side plate defines a second side that defines dimples or ridges to elevate a food item and to prevent sticking. 
 
     
     
         9 . The cooking griddle according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 supports below said griddle dual plate, said supports for extending into said griddle orifice for supporting said griddle dual side plate.   
     
     
         10 . The cooking griddle according to  claim 9  wherein:
 said supports are brackets affixed to a bottom surface of said griddle plate for extending into said griddle orifice. 
 
     
     
         11 . The cooking griddle according to  claim 9  wherein:
 said supports are a circular ring defining an interior shelf. 
 
     
     
         12 . The cooking griddle according to  claim 9  wherein:
 said supports are an adjustable pivotal bracket for selectively extending into said griddle orifice. 
 
     
     
         13 . The cooking griddle according to  claim 9  wherein:
 said supports comprise an extendable bracket having a base and an extendable mounted tab for selectively extending into said griddle orifice. 
 
     
     
         15 . The cooking griddle according to  claim 6  further comprising:
 an elevation mechanism for elevating said griddle dual side plate to an elevated position above said griddle plate for allowing air flow or flue gas circulation around said perimeter of said griddle dual side plate. 
 
     
     
         16 . The cooking griddle according to  claim 15  wherein:
 said elevation mechanism includes circular elevation ring defining a plurality of downwardly extending elevation tabs. 
 
     
     
         17 . The cooking griddle according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said secondary cooking member is a plate sized to be received in said versatile section. 
 
     
     
         18 . The cooking griddle according to  claim 17  wherein:
 said plate is a pizza plate; and 
 wherein said versatile section is said griddle orifice. 
 
     
     
         19 . The cooking griddle according to  claim 17  wherein:
 said versatile section is a sear griddle orifice. 
 
     
     
         20 . The cooking griddle according to  claim 17  wherein:
 said secondary cooking member is a wok sized to be received in said griddle orifice. 
 
     
     
         21 . The cooking griddle according to  claim 20  wherein:
 wherein said wok is sized to extend below griddle surface when received in said griddle orifice for increasing captured convection. 
 
     
     
         22 . The cooking griddle according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said section is a sear griddle orifice; and 
 said secondary cooking member is steamer assembly for being received in said sear griddle orifice. 
 
     
     
         23 . The cooking griddle according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said secondary cooking member is a perforated surface for allowing flames from a heat source to char food. 
 
     
     
         24 . The cooking griddle according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said secondary cooking member is a lower profile lid sized to cover a surface of said griddle plate to create an oven for increasing temperature for baking item.   
     
     
         25 . The cooking griddle according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said secondary cooking member is a cooking grate for placing directly on said griddle surface. 
 
     
     
         26 . The cooking griddle according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said griddle plate provides both radiant heating and conductive heating to said grate and to food on said grate.